Sony Computer Entertainment America announced today the release of the latest piece of PS2 hardware, the 40GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD), which comes pre-installed with the highly-anticipated Final Fantasy XI. This is truly a breakthrough day for the PlayStation 2 – the HDD will surely lead the console into new directions in the future, while Final Fantasy XI's massive online play is a first for the revolutionary series.



"True to its business philosophy of delivering technology when the market is ready and with full content support, the Hard Disk Drive delivers the features that consumers want most," said Andrew House, executive vice president, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "With 2.6 million network ready PlayStation 2 consoles in more than 25 million homes throughout North America, the internal Hard Disk Drive paves the way for delivering countless forms of digital entertainment to this massive audience."



The 40GB Hard Disk Drive with Final Fantasy XI pre-installed is available now for a suggested retail price of $99. Keep it with PSX2.com, as we will have a full review of FFXI in the near future.